I first saw the film "Titanic" in a tiny movie theater in the tiny town of Algona, Iowa.
There a young man, probably in high school, turned to his date and said, "You know, the boat sinks."
"Shhhh!" his date responded aghast. "Don't ruin the ending!"
Tempted as I was to simply walk away grieving over the status of our public education system, I stayed to see the film – despite already knowing the ending – and nonetheless escaped into a visual and musical movie masterpiece that later went on to break box office records and win multiple Academy Awards.
Similarly, in buying a ticket for the film "Secretariat," I walked in knowing the ending – the horse wins.
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But like "Titanic," stealing away the suspense by portraying a real-life event didn't spoil the experience.
"Secretariat" is a family-friendly, faith-affirming, well-written, inspirational (if a bit syrupy at times), feel-good, exciting, touching and exhilarating film that – like last year's "The Blind Side" – is this year's must-see movie for Christian and values-affirming ticket buyers.
The film begins with the words of Scripture: "Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane? Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting? He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray. He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword. The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance. In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds" (Job 39:19-24).
More than just describing Secretariat – the greatest racehorse of all time – the passage serves in this film to prelude the fearless determination of the horse's owner in chasing a dream, pursuing her father's legacy and the running the "race" given to her to win.
The story follows Penny Chenery, a housewife who agrees to take over her ailing father's horseracing operation in a business that is strictly "men only." With the help of a colorful, veteran trainer (played with eccentricity, passion and a hint of tenderness by the extraordinary John Malkovich) and a handful of honorable other characters, Penny strives to see Secretariat become a champion steed.
To be honest, there are hints of feminism sprinkled in "Secretariat," as Penny tries to be a housewife and business owner while defying the predominant sexism of the horseracing industry. The typical struggle between a husband who wants his wife home and a wife chasing a career is evident. A few lines are thrown in about being proud of Mom and, "You taught them what a real woman is." And yet, it felt more like a sideline than the main point, more of an attempt to stay true to the story and time period than to force in a message of some sort.
In the end, Penny is simply a grand example of a strong female lead, but not one who trashes the family life to be a "liberated" woman. In fact, her husband and children rally around her, and the film concludes with the words that Penny "saved her family and her horse and lived happily ever after."
Similarly, Penny's daughter becomes a war protester and socialist, clashing with her father over her "commie" political views; but this, too, is tangential to the main story.
The film's primary message was in praise of pluckiness, chasing after a dream, doing what's right, determination and perseverance.
Scores of inspirational lines dot the script, any one of which could land itself on a motivational poster: "I've already won. I didn't quit. I've run my race, now you run yours," or, "Our political beliefs can change, but our need to do what is right does not," or, "You never know how far you can go unless you run," or, "I'm not going to live in regret. And we're going to live rejoicing every day."
Very well; like I said, it can be a bit syrupy. But the syrup and Disneyfication of the film need only gag the cynical. For those who can immerse themselves in the story, who can embrace the very embraceable characters, who can suspend the knowledge that Secretariat will win just long enough to cheer, the film is a ride of joy.
In fact, I found a more personal and spiritual inspiration in the film as well.
For just as I knew going into the theater how "Titanic" would end, and just as I knew how "Secretariat" would end, so too the Bible in the book of Revelation tells us how time will end. But knowing the ending didn't spoil the majesty of "Titanic," didn't dull the thrill of "Secretariat" and doesn't steal the sense of adventure in knowing that creation is engaged in a great battle, a great striving, a great race … in which we already know that Jesus Christ shall have the victory.
So in "Secretariat" Christians – who will already appreciate the use of Scripture and gospel songs in the movie – will see in the passionate determination of Penny Chenery a model for living the race set before us:
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24).
Or as Penny said to Secretariat, "I've run my race; now you run yours."
Content advisory:
- "Secretariat" contains almost no profanity or blasphemy, only a couple of minor expletives. One character, however, does rant and shout in French, and (since I don't know the language) there may be some objectionable words for those who can translate. Honestly, the film's strongest use of language is a rant about a monkey's "butt."
- The film's only sexuality is a teenage daughter who wears a revealing, short pair of shorts in one scene.
- The film's only violence is a wounded man flailing his crutches at an inconsiderate cab driver.
- There is a scene – only shown in part – of a horse giving birth and a humorous shot of a horse urinating on a man, but otherwise the film is clean of gory imagery.
- The film is heavily laced with explicitly Christian content, including quotes from Job, Philippians and 2 Timothy, a discussion that contains a veiled allusion to the story of Aaron holding up Moses' arms, a handful of more generic references to God and a pair of Gospel music songs, including a lyric about Jesus played triumphantly at the movie's climax.